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The Cloud is the Internet - in other words, a network of servers. Today we do all kinds of things "in the cloud." If you've check your email online, you're "in the cloud!"

Cloud Storage Apps

Many cross platform apps utilize cloud storage. With cloud storage, you do not save your documents and notes directly on your device or computer. Rather, you are storing information through the app on third party data servers which you can access anywhere you have an Internet connection (Strickland, n.d.).

Dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/): a cloud based file hosting service that allows for simultaneous synchronization across devices and platforms. It also allows for file sharing and can be installed on MAC and PC desktop computers. Similar products include CloudApp and Skydrive - but Dropbox is one of the most popular and easiest to use.

Mobile Web Browsers that Support Flash

Puffin Web Browser (http://www.puffinbrowser.com/): There is a free version which will give you unlimited access to Flash videos for 2 weeks. The pay version is $2.99 and will give you unlimited Flash support through the cloud indefinitely.

Skyfire Web Browser (http://www.skyfire.com/): Optimized for viewing streaming flash video from websites that would not normally display on mobile devices.

Google Suite of Apps

Google Drive (https://drive.google.com/): similar to Dropbox except that it utilizes Google’s free, web-based Google Docs Office Suite to create content. It is possible to upload standard Microsoft Office and other file types as well to this system.

Quickoffice: Free app from Google that lets you sign in with your Google account, create and edit Microsoft Office files on your iPhone and iPad, and save the finished version to your Google Drive account.

Google Play Books (https://play.google.com/store/books?hl=en): Google has updated its Play Books eReader apps for iOS and Android platforms to include support for EPUB and PDF files from outside the Play Store. This new feature allows users to either upload their own eBooks (not only those purchased through Google Play Books) via the Google Play Books website (http://play.google.com/books/uploads) or import them from their Google Drive storage. You can store up to 1000 files for free that are under 50MB each.

Evernote Suite of Apps

Evernote (https://evernote.com/): is a suite of software and services designed for note-taking and archiving. A "note" can be a piece of formatted text, a full webpage or webpage excerpt, a photograph, or a voice memo. Notes can also have file attachments, like video content. Notes can be sorted into folders, then tagged, annotated, edited, given comments, searched and exported as part of a notebook. In addition to being a useful app, there is also an Evernote Web Clipper tool which can be installed as an add-on to all major web browsers including Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer.

Skitch (https://evernote.com/skitch/): from the makers of Evernote, it allows you to draw and annotate images including photos and screenshots, PDF files, notes created in the Evernote app, and more. Both Skitch and Evernote connect into your Facebook and Twitter accounts and you can easily share your creations with others via web links. Both Evernote and Skitch are considered part of the Evernote Software Suite. The free version of this suite allows users a 60MB per month upload allowance. There is a premium version of the Evernote Suite which increases this monthly allotment and gives users advanced note-taking and annotation features.

App Organization / Project Management

Hojoki (http://hojoki.com/): is marketed as a team-messaging and task management system. It can act as an RSS feed for many of the cloud based storage apps you may have loaded on your devices. Available for both iOS and Android platforms, it integrates with Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, and more. It sends you notifications and updates every time a document stored in one of these systems is edited, either by yourself or by a collaborator, making it possible to track changes in a collaborative work environment. You can sign in with your Google or Facebook Account. You can create "Workspaces" with other Hojoki users. Within these workspaces, you create tasks that you assign to a group. That person gets a notification that they have been assigned a task. They complete the task and when they update the document, you get a notification.

PDF Reader and annotation apps

Adobe Reader (http://get.adobe.com/reader/): This standard application for opening PDF files now has the ability to store your PDF files online and access them from any computer, laptop, or mobile device. Also includes limited annotation tools such as marker, strikethrough, pencil and pen, comment boxes, and e-signature features.

ezPDF: Designed for use on mobile devices only. The Pro version is a pay app for $3.99 and you get advanced features like connecting into Google Drive and Dropbox. There are more annotation tools, including the ability to draw shapes and upload a photo and overlay it onto an existing PDF file.

eBook Reader App

While Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble both have apps for their own eReaders and eBooks that can be used across all tablet and smartphone platforms, there are additional apps that will work for EPUB and PDF eBooks.

Online Communication

Additional Apps

Indeed.com is one of the largest job search engines on the Internet. This handy app lets you quickly identify and apply for jobs in your area. This a useful app for public library patrons who may be applying for jobs, have limited computers skills or don't own a regular computer, but own a basic smartphone.